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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: deal · pitch · pit · root · lash · fan · safe · row

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. row — to paddle
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. pit — in a race
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. root — of a word
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. root — of a plant
  13. pitch — completely
  14. pit — a hole
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. deal — to handle
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. root — the cause
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. row — a line

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com